The Kindlings Muse

Decades on the cultural 'force' of the Star Wars legacy continues to shape global culture. Why does the story of "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far way..." still capture our imagination? What lessons might the Church consider as this next chapter of the Star Wars saga unfolds in JJ Abrams' eagerly awaited […]

Rev. Palmer explores David Brooks' amazing new book, The Road To Character: “I wrote this book not sure I could follow the road to character, but I wanted at least to know what the road looks like and how other people have trodden it.”—David Brooks. With the wisdom, humor, curiosity, and sharp insights that have brought […]

Earl Palmer discusses one of the great classics of prison literature, Letters and Papers from Prison – which effectively serves as the last will and testament of the Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a young German pastor who was executed by the Nazis in 1945 for his part in the “officers’ plot” to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

Toni Morrison, winner of the Nobel prize for literature, the Pulitzer, the National Book Foundation’s Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and the National Book Critics Circle award published her 11th novel, God Help the Child: A novel, in April 2015. Join us as we explore ways in which childhood trauma shapes and misshapes […]

The spring offers some of the most notable music releases for the year. Our May show highlights some of the biggest releases in the first half of 2015. There's more going on in popular music than meets the ear. Whether it's Kacey Mugraves, Sleater-Kinney, Ibeyi, Kendrick Lamar, what story is the lyrics in this year's indie […]

This years Kindlings Fest on Orcas Island asked, "Can Crabbed age and youth live together?" Through film, talks, panel discussions, art, music and casual conversations we explored what it is that keeps generations apart and what can bring them together. To begin, writer, poet, priest, academic and  troubadour Malcolm Guite takes a look at relationality, interdependence between old […]

KindlingsFest 2011 explored the theme of Turning Mourning Into Dancing with speakers Dr. Jerry Root, Erik Metaxas and Michael Card. Dr. Jeff Keuss hosted conversations about Sundance Select films, Nigel Goodwin performed a daily Whimsy and hosted Bag End Cafe. Jeff Johnson and Brian Moss led worship each day. Artists-in-residence included singer-songwriter Susan Osborn, dancers […]

Ferguson, New York City, and Baltimore are just the latest chapters in the Civil Rights movement and the ongoing transformation of the American Story. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the March at Selma and depending on how you look at it, much has changed and much has stayed the same. How has the face of justice […]

Welcome to The Kindlings Muse @ Earl Palmer Ministries hosted by Dick Staub. This event is taped for podcast in front of a live audience at the Burke Museum Cafe on the campus of the university of Washington. Each month we feature the Reverend Earl Palmer selecting and then discussing a book every thinking human […]

"Repentance is always difficult and not only because we must cross the threshold of self-love but also because our own sins are not easily visible to us." – Alexander Solzhenitsyn Where does reconciliation have its beginnings? What does it take for rifts to be mended? The Rev. Earl Palmer looks at reconciliation as portrayed in From Under the […]

Are you the devout March Madness-managed brackets of college basketball, the face-painting fanatic World Cup and Premier League Soccer fan, the statistic biding baseball fan, or are you the NFL-loving 12th Man? Sports have taken on a level of devotion, discipleship, worship, and community more often associated with the church-going public. An online discussion at […]

Scientific Geniuses rising up despite opposition, overthrowing racial barriers, and boys learning what it is to be men, or men coming to terms with mortality are just some of the themes of this year’s Best Picture Nominees. The 2014 year in film was dubbed a box office failure, but this year’s Best Pictures defy the numbers with rich storytelling that goes deeper than previous years. Listen to a dynamic conversation of the Best Picture nominees where our panelists speculate about the winner and discuss how each of these films speak into the spiritual hunger of our generation. Host Dr. Jeff Keuss leads a panel that includes Jeffrey Overstreet, film critic and author of Through a Screen Darkly, Jennie Spohr, author of The Realm Series, and Kindlings Muse produce, Anna Miller.

Why do we work? Where is the value in labor? The Rev. Earl Palmer and Host Dick Staub explore the virtue of work through two books:  The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown and Why Work?: Discovering Real Purpose, Peace, and Fulfillment at Work. A Christian Perspective., By Dorothy Sayers. If you are in the Seattle area, consider joining us live at the Walker-Ames Room, Kane Hall, on the University of Washington campus.Find out the next show at http://www.eventbrite.com/o/the-kindlings-muse-2330211091  

The film "Fifty Shades of Grey" is set to open on Valentine's Day, of all days. There is a reason well over 40 million people have purchased the erotic fan-fiction Fifty Shades Trilogy: Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker,and Fifty Shades Freed.  The question is why? Why would a book about a woman who toys with being dominated, abused and humiliated by a man be at all entertaining to so many women or anyone else? But more than the books, what does it mean to be sexual, to be intimate, and be fully human? Where have we misunderstood the terms "erotic," "love," "pleasure," and "joy?" Both inside and out of the faith community we seem to be at a lost for a healthy dialogue about sex. We whip up a discussion on this phenomenon and why issues of sexuality, self-concepts and the church's refusal to present a healthy concept of sex play (pun intended) into it all. With host Jennie Spohr and panelists Suzanne Wolfe and Dr. Jeff Keuss, and special guest, sexologist, Dr. Tina Sellers. Enjoyed listening? Consider donating, Become a Kindling.    

The Bible has long been a source for fueling the cultural imagination. With the release of "Exodus: Gods and Kings" and more biblical epics in the works for 2015 what does this renewed interest in the Bible say about our culture and what people are drawing from these texts? This episode of The Kindlings Muse reviews the film as well as discusses other biblical interpretations in popular culture. Listen to this discussion with host Dr. Jeff Keuss and panelists Jeffrey Overstreet film critic and author of Through a Screen Darkly,  Jennie Spohr, author of Heirs & Spares and God & King, and Kindlings Muse producer, Anna Miller. Enjoy These Podcasts?